4:00 PM - Lecture - "How Fieldwork Uncovered the Real Sacajawea and Led Me to Live with a Shoshone Doctor: What I Did with My Augustana Degree)Dr. Tom Johnson and Dr. Helen Johnson share their experiences living and working with Eastern Shoshone IndiansFree and open to the publicEvald 113

4:30 - 5:30 PM - After HoursTredway Library, Room 518

4:30 PM - Tea Hour Series "Performing Reggaetón in the capital of Capital"Araceli Masterson will examine the consumption and production of Reggaetón, a form of Latin urban musicTredway Library, 2nd floor south

7:00 PM - Lecture: "Framing Art in the Liberal Arts" by Cathy GoebelIn conjunction with the Augustana exhibit "Celebrating Ideas: Bridging Communities with Augustana's Liberal Arts Through the AGES."Admission and the lecture are free to Figge members and Augustana faculty, students and staff; the lecture is free with admission to non-members.Figge Art Museum, 225 W. Second Street, Davenport, IA

Friday, April 8

Drop to avoid a "W" deadline

Saturday, April 9

8:00 AM - Longfellow Build a Playground Day Postponed until 4-30-11Volunteers are needed to assist with the building of the Longfellow playgroundRefreshments will be provided. All skills levels welcome.Longfellow School, 4198 7th Avenue, Rock Island, IL

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Annual Planting of Augie AcresJoin Farm2Fork in the annual planting. Bring the family and enjoy a BBQ, beverages, and cookies.6th Avenue and 32nd Street

This Week's Message

"An Open Discussion on Cultural Diversity: A Benefit to Us All"

At this week's Friday Conversations, we hope to have people from all corners of the Augustana community come to have a casual and open conversation on the issue of diversity. In this conversation we hope to share stories from many vantage points of diversity in higher education and specifically here at Augustana. It is important to address this issue in terms of not just faculty diversity but in reference to diversity across the entire workforce at the college.

There are experiences that people who are members of previously marginalized groups have when it comes to search for jobs in higher education and maintaining those jobs. Many times we look at diversity from the point of view of the institution and somewhat forget that the people whom we seek to fulfill our goals for institutional diversity are people with lives. So it is good to take some time to humanize the issue of diversity and have some honest dialogue about what has been successful, what can be done in the future and how the college can benefit from these efforts.

The hope is that people come to the Friday Conversation with open minds and open hearts. We will have a few issues presented and they will serve to begin discussions, but we will also be very open to stories, questions and the opinions of the audience. This type of open dialogue will serve us very well as we continue to make strides and open our arms to diversity in the college's workforce while building bridges to the diverse community that surrounds our campus.